COSE Update - September 2008 - (Page 28)

advocacy loud and clear egislators discuss hundreds of bills each year, and some even sneak their way into law or onto the ballot. Whether they’re good or bad, if they affect your business, you need to get involved. And in some cases, it’s important to recruit the support of your employees. Five ways to communicate an issue’s pros and cons to employees. l Here are some ways to get your staff informed and inspired. 1) Avoid polarizing language. No matter how passionate you feel about a particular issue, don’t assume your employees feel the same. Stay focused on presenting information without advocating one side or the other. it’s no secret that cose is working to defeat the mandated sick leave initiative (or so-called ohio healthy families act). to help you and your employees get the real story on how the bill would impact ohio, cose is offering expert speakers and an Employer Communications Kit absolutely free. smallbizvotes.org or (216) 592-2222 Your Full-Service Career Center Contact CVCC For: Customized Solutions & Corporate Training Restaurant, Floral & Salon Services 2) Edit your content. Your employees are smart; you wouldn’t have hired them if they weren’t. So don’t talk down to anyone and make sure you present a general summary before demonstrating how the legislation will impact the business or their particular jobs. 3) Bring in the experts. Consider contacting someone who can speak on the issue, and, if the topic is sensitive, consider leaving the room during the talk. That will create a non-threatening environment and allows employees to ask no-holds-barred questions. 4) Put it on paper. Display informational posters or “take-ones” in high traffic areas or break room. 5) Don’t avoid communication. Although it can be difficult to discuss sensitive or complicated issues, it’s best to keep your employees educated and help them make informed decisions on Election Day. Generate even more interest by demonstrating how the issue will impact them personally. But be cautious—don’t simply tell them how to vote! Give them the information so they can make their own decision. ● Adult Career Development Business Meeting & Conference Facilities can’t Get to the Polls? No problem, get an absentee ballot. Find all the details and download an application at smallbizvotes.org/absentee. Need Skills? Ours WORK! Accredited Affordable Convenient Flexible capital comes to cose Talk one-on-one with your elected officials about the issues that affect your business most when COSE brings Columbus to you at COSE Day 2008 on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the COSE offices in downtown Cleveland. cose.org/events or jbauer@cose.org 8001 Brecksville Rd. Brecksville, OH 44141 Tel: 440.746.8230 www.cvccworks.com 28 • cose update • september 2008 http://smallbizvotes.org http://smallbizvotes.org/ http://www.cvccworks.com http://www.cvccworks.com http://cose.org/events

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of COSE Update - September 2008

COSE Update - September 2008 Contents Memo Upfront Vision Tech Business Interrupted The “Bigness” of Small Business What’s the Plan? People Telecom Advocacy Communications Health Pipeline Connect Arts My Cause Plugged In

COSE Update - September 2008

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